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McLEAN, Va. — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced today a historic commitment by 20 automakers representing more than 99 percent of the U.S. auto market to make automatic emergency braking a standard feature on virtually all new cars no later than NHTSA’s 2022 reporting year, which begins Sept. 1, 2022.

Automakers making the commitment are Audi, BMW, FCA US LLC, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Tesla Motors Inc., Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo Car USA. The unprecedented commitment means that this important safety technology will be available to more consumers more quickly than would be possible through the regulatory process.

AEB systems help prevent crashes or reduce their severity by applying the brakes for the driver. The systems use on-vehicle sensors such as radar, cameras or lasers to detect an imminent crash, warn the driver and apply the brakes if the driver does not take sufficient action quickly enough.

NHTSA estimates that the agreement will make AEB standard on new cars three years faster than could be achieved through the formal regulatory process. During those three years, according to IIHS estimates, the commitment will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries.

“It’s an exciting time for vehicle safety. By making automatic emergency braking systems standard equipment on their vehicles, these 20 automakers will help prevent crashes and save lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “It’s a win for safety and a win for consumers.”

Based on mounting evidence that AEB effectively reduced crashes and injuries in the United States and around the world, NHTSA and IIHS issued a challenge to the industry in September 2015 to encourage automakers to voluntarily make AEB a standard feature. A series of meetings followed to establish details of the commitment.

“IIHS member companies strongly support the adoption of effective safety technologies,” said IIHS Board Chairman and CEO of American Family Insurance, Jack Salzwedel. “Deploying AEB on a wide scale will allow us to further evaluate the technology’s effectiveness and its impact on insurance losses, so that more insurers can explore offering discounts or lower premiums to consumers who choose AEB-equipped vehicles.”

“We’re getting these safety systems into vehicles much faster than what would have been otherwise possible,” said NHTSA Administrator, Dr. Mark Rosekind. “A commitment of this magnitude is unprecedented, and it will bring more safety to more Americans sooner.”

“The benefits of this commitment are far reaching, from injuries and deaths averted to the recovery of productivity that would otherwise be lost in traffic jams caused by the crashes prevented,” said IIHS Executive Vice President and Chief Research Officer David Zuby. “It also assures that all Americans will benefit from this technology.”

“With roadway fatalities on the rise, the commitment made today has the potential to save more lives than almost anything else we can accomplish in the next six years,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council, who attended today’s announcement. “Including all models in the agreement ensures that safety isn’t for just those who can afford it.”

NHTSA and IIHS also announced that Consumer Reports will assist in monitoring automaker progress toward meeting the AEB commitment. Jake Fisher, Director of Auto Testing for Consumer Reports, said, “We have been calling on automakers to make automatic emergency braking standard in all new vehicles, and today is an important step toward reaching that goal. This proven technology is among the most promising safety advances we’ve seen since electronic stability control almost two decades ago. We look forward to working with NHTSA and IIHS to help put this plan into action and hold automakers accountable for their commitments.”

Today’s commitment will make AEB standard on virtually all light-duty cars and trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 8,500 pounds or less beginning no later than Sept. 1, 2022. AEB will be standard on virtually all trucks with a gross vehicle weight between 8,501 pounds and 10,000 pounds beginning no later than Sept. 1, 2025.

As NHTSA continues its regulatory work in this area, NHTSA will track the progress industry is making towards its commitment.

The commitment takes into account the evolution of AEB technology. It requires a level of functionality that is in line with research and crash data demonstrating that such systems are substantially reducing crashes, but does not stand in the way of improved capabilities that are just beginning to emerge. The performance measures are based on real world data showing that vehicles with this level of capability are avoiding crashes.

To encourage further development of AEB technology, NHTSA will accelerate its research on more advanced AEB applications, including systems that reduce the risk of collisions with pedestrians. In December, NHTSA announced plans to rate AEB systems and other advanced technologies under its 5-Star Safety Ratings beginning in model year 2018.

Details of the commitment: Participating automakers commit to make AEB standard on virtually all light-duty cars and trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 8,500 pounds or less no later than Sept. 1, 2022, and on virtually all trucks with a gross vehicle weight between 8,501 pounds and 10,000 pounds no later than Sept. 1, 2025.

What is AEB? Automatic emergency braking helps prevent crashes or reduce their severity by applying a vehicle’s brakes automatically. The systems use on-board sensors such as radar, cameras or lasers to detect an imminent crash, warn the driver, and apply the brakes or increase braking effort if the driver does not take sufficient action.

Performance requirements: Participating manufacturers will ensure vehicles have both a forward collision warning system that meets a subset of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s current 5-Star Safety Ratings program requirements on the timing of driver alerts and an automatic braking system that earns at least an advanced rating in the current Insurance Institute for Highway Safety front crash prevention track tests. The baseline performance measures are a speed reduction of at least 10 mph in either the IIHS 12 or 25 mph tests, or a speed reduction of 5 mph in both of the tests.

Safety benefits: IIHS research shows that AEB systems meeting the commitment would reduce rear-end crashes by 40 percent. IIHS estimates that by 2025 — the earliest NHTSA believes it could realistically implement a regulatory requirement for AEB — the commitment will prevent 28,000 crashes and 12,000 injuries.

Monitoring progress: IIHS and NHTSA will monitor automakers’ progress toward the commitment and provide annual updates on that progress. Commitment letters from each of the manufacturers, along with annual submissions on their progress, will be posted at www.regulations.gov under docket number NHTSA-2015-0101.

Series goes behind the scenes with makers of Maserati, Lamboghini, Bentley and Aston Martin

NEW YORK – The new Smithsonian Channel four-part series, SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD, premiering Sunday, February 14 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, goes behind the inherent beauty, amazing mechanical prowess, and basic building process of Maserati, Lamborghini, Bentley and Aston Martin, four of the world’s leading luxury automakers, as they attempt to produce what they hope is their next iconic car.

They’re rare. They’re beautiful. They’re expensive. They not only push the performance envelope, they rip it wide open. Yet every supercar shares one thing in common: they all have a unique story to tell. There is often high-stakes pressure, impossible deadlines, secret meetings, remarkable engineering challenges, and, of course, dynamic styling.

These are the machines that stand at the zenith of childhood imagination and adult obsession. They are the vehicles that light fantasies, capture hearts, and make some wish they were wealthy enough to afford them. But to create them is an art all its own. In each of these stories lies a dedicated team of passionate automotive artisans that overcome tremendous obstacles as they dream big and think outside of the box in order to create the ultimate cars for enthusiasts around the world. Each hour-long episode of SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD takes an in-depth look at the origin, design, challenges, and performance of the vehicles.

Among the experts heard from in SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD are Car and Driver editor Tony Quiroga and Road & Track’s Jason Cammisa, who provide industry context to what each of the manufacturers is looking to accomplish with the new models they’re designing.

The series premiere of SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD: MASERATI takes a look at the Italian car company and its attempt to broaden its appeal with a new mid-size sedan, the Ghibli. For years they’ve had success with their signature car, the Quattroporte. For the past decade Maserati has sold six thousand cars a year, but the bottom line is they need to sell more. They believe the Ghibli, which is being designed for everyday usage and is basically a smaller version of the Quattroporte, will help grow their business nearly ten-fold.

Other episodes of Supercar Superbuild include:SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD: LAMBORGHINI
Premieres Sunday, February 21st at 9 p.m. ET/PTIn November 2013, the last Lamborghini Gallardo rolled off the assembly line. After more than 14,000 Gallardos, Lamborghini’s most popular model, it is the end of an era. Perhaps more importantly, it is the end of the single most successful supercar model ever produced in Italy. Now Lamborghini has designed a new machine called the Huracàn. Can it live up to the legacy of the Gallardo?

SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD: BENTLEY CONTINENTAL
Premieres Sunday, February 28th at 9 p.m. ET/PTWhen it was introduced in 2003, the Bentley Continental GT was the world’s fastest 2+2 coupé with a top speed of 198 mph. Singlehandedly it resuscitated the grand touring genre. But now the platform has aged and competitors are nipping at the Bentley’s heels. Their answer is the Continental GT V8 S, a faster, lighter, more fuel-efficient machine with four fewer cylinders in its engine.

SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD: ASTON MARTIN
Premieres Sunday, March 6th at 9 p.m. ET/PTAston Martin can’t afford to make any mistakes. They are one of the last true independent automotive manufacturers. To stay relevant and to fend off competitors who are part of multi-national global conglomerates with nearly unlimited resources, the brand needs a new machine. Something brave and bold that stands out. Aston’s solution is the V12 Vantage S, a supercar that owes its entire existence to a handful of engineers sitting at a pub and an old American Hot-Rodder’s trick.

SUPERCAR SUPERBUILD is produced by Cry Havoc Productions. Executive producer for Cry Havoc is Dylan Weiss. David Royle and Charles Poe serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel, owned by Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms.

Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network’s offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Weapon Hunter,Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes;MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at http://www.smithsonianchannel.com. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth, a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content.

Beyond the Swimsuit” brings together ‘day in the life’ scenes that befit one of the world’s most famous women, Heidi Klum, the thrill-seeker with GranTurismo MC Trofeo Race Car.

BY GERRY MILES

Far be it for an automaker to miss a marketing chance to pair a lovely model with one of its motorized, sexy, sleek and desirable automobiles. At least, that’ll be the rationale when said marketer justifies the price of using an A-list celebrity model in Sports Illustrated’s famed 50th Swimsuit Edition.Maserati, did just that with the North American roll out of the all-new 2014 Ghibli, Quattroporte and GranTurismo lines in a 7-page pictoria, “Beyond the Swimsuit” in the introduction part of America’s most anticipated magazine issue.Now it’s oft-said that when a high-priced model stands in front of the car, the car becomes invisible. So what about the placement in the magazine that’s now rich with swimsuit-clad models in the front of the mag? Won’t folks just start flicking to the full-page color pics of the, ahem, bikinis?Granted they’ve got Heidi Klum wearing 100,000% more material than the other models …

“I had a great time driving the new Maseratis for their new campaign shot by Francesco Carrizoni” Heidi Klum pictured with the Maserati Ghibli S Q4

“We started our next 100 years of craftsmanship by kicking off 2014 with the launch of one of the best received Super Bowl commercials, “Strike,” featuring all new Maserati Ghibli, and extending the brand to another massive cultural icon, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 50th Anniversary issue,” said Harald Wester, CEO of Maserati SPA.”We’ve prepared a new line-up of Maserati cars with the glamorous Quattroporte, the 4-door daily performer Ghibli, and the sporty GranTurismo Convertible, and this massive effort deserves the largest audience platforms to take notice.“Maserati enters this new era backed by strong product and with ambitious sales goals driven by proven growth in the North American market, where the brand experienced triple digit gains in the past year. First unveiled to the U.S. in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Ghibli is Maserati’s first-ever mid-size four-door luxury sports sedan vehicle. Available with all-wheel-drive and starting at $66,900, the Ghibli is powered by a Ferrari built twin-turbo V6 engine capable of over four hundred horsepower. Advanced suspension, Brembo brakes and extensive use of aluminum ensure comfort, with an ease of performance ready when called upon. Within its striking aerodynamic silhouette, the cabin offers rich Italian leathers, woods and other high quality materials at the heart of the Maserati brand.The Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept, featured in the spread, is the result of close collaboration between two companies that are linked by history, tradition and spirit of exclusiveness. Its exterior features a special effect paint finish that simulates the fluidity and purity of metal, by using ultra-fine aluminum pigments. The platinum metal color effect finish is warmly nuanced to express the car’s classic and sophisticated, yet technically advanced character. Inside the cabin, classical warm hues like mocha and grey are re-interpreted in a modern key to emulate Zegna’s latest men’s fashion collections, conveying a formal, sophisticated character. Interior components such as seats, door panels and roof lining are finished in genuine soft leather, in addition to a velvet-smooth, bright fabric that, due to Zegna’s vast experience and know-how, guarantees the level of performance needed for automotive applications. A twin-turbo V8 producing over five hundred horsepower ensures authentic Maserati performance in a sophisticated, elegant package befitting the long traditions of Zegna and Maserati.

Maserati strikes again just two weeks after its successful Super Bowl spot with a special 7-page feature in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 50th Anniversary Issue. The story of Maserati’s introduction to the North American market with its new car line-up is one of beauty, hard work, dedication and an element of surprise. Maserati brings this story forward with Emmy Award Winning actress and Super Model Heidi Klum in a salute to all the women who achieved great things – “Beyond the Swimsuit.”

Beyond the Swimsuit” brings together ‘day in the life’ scenes that befit one of the world’s most famous women, Heidi Klum, the Hollywood star and business woman with the Ghibli S Q4

Shot by Italian Master Photographer, Francesco Carrozzini, the 7-page pictorial piece “Beyond the Swimsuit” brings together ‘day in the life’ scenes that befit one of the world’s most famous women, Heidi Klum, the Hollywood star with the glamorous Quattroporte Zegna Limited Edition, the business woman with the Ghibli S Q4, and thrill-seeker with GranTurismo MC Stradale Trofeo Race Car. This is also a nod to a brand with proven tradition and one of the highest standards of quality in the industry, which has been hard at work engineering automobiles that will usher them into the next 100 years of innovation—automobiles with their own power and personality that are capable of striking against the status quo. This campaign strikes against the stereotypes of modeling by showing what many of these women went on to become more than just models, the ones who have elevated themselves past a simple beauty shot, into being successful, powerful, driven women—a Maserati type woman.

Ghibli, Maserati’s first-ever mid-size four-door luxury sports sedan, available in all-wheel-drive, starts at $66,900 and is powered by a Ferrari-built twin-turbo V6, capable of more than 400hp.

A Los Angeles-to-Honolulu crewed event, first challenge against other boats

BY GERRY MILES

Maserati had some luck in the sport of kings: horse racing backing the Kentucky Derby winner Orb with the Italian automaker’s name atop the winner. And like most horse owners, they, too, found that capturing all three jewels in horse racing’s triple crown is most difficult.

Now Maserati is on to the sport of, well, the rich to say the least with all due respect in the best possible way. Sailing is an expensive sport and the Maserati nameplate is never out of place in Newport, RI or Newport Beach, California.

Thus, Giovanni Soldini and Maserati cast off from Los Angeles at the start of the 47th Transpac Race.

The crewed race covers a distance of 2,225 nautical miles to Honolulu with entries open to multi-hulls and monohulls alike.

The Transpace Race works on a staggered start schedule which saw the smaller boats in the fleet set off on July 5 and 11. Saturday, July 12, the faster craft (Classes 1, 2, 3 and multihulls), including Maserati set sail.

Maserati, a VOR70, is competing in Class 1 which numbers seven of the total 52 entries. The other yachts in her class are: Bad Park (STP65), Invisible Hand (Reichel Pugh 63), Medicine Man (Andrews 63) and Wizard (+RP 74), all American, the formidable Australian Ragamuffin (Elliot 100) and Peligroso (Kernan 70) from Mexico.

The Transpac Race starts off rugged Point Fermin, San Pedro, Los Angeles, and ends off the Diamond Head Lighthouse, Oahu, Hawaii (east of Honolulu).

Giovanni Soldini explains: “Both we and Maserati are ready for this new challenge: it’s going to be interesting because it’s the first time we’ll actually be racing against other competitors. And I have to say that some of them are pretty formidable.

Ragamuffin, a 100-foot yacht with automatic winches, needs to have her engine running constantly. That means she’ll be casting off with 700 litres of fuel in her tanks, while we’ll have just 30 litres. Then there are other 65-70 foot boats that are very light and fast in very little air. Generally speaking, Maserati performs very well in winds upwards of 17 knots. Breezes of anywhere between 2 to 13 knots are tough going for us but things improve between 14 and 16. However, we get really competitive when the wind goes beyond 17 knots. As things stand, there’s a 13-knot wind forecast for tomorrow’s start, but let’s hope it’ll be a bit higher than that. I’m delighted to have John Elkann aboard too – he’s an excellent number 9.”

The Transpac was first staged in 1906, the year of the great San Francisco earthquake, by Hawaiian sailor Clarence MacFarlane who was inspired by the revered Hawaiian leader King Kalakaua’s belief that a regatta to Hawaii would strengthen the islands’ economic and cultural ties to the mainland.

The fastest monohull in the history of the event was Alfa Romeo, skippered by Neville Crichton – completing the distance in 5 days, 14 hours and 36 minutes.

Updates with video footage and still photographs from the boat and a chart showing Maserati’s position can be found at www.maseratisoldini.it and on Facebook (Giovanni Soldini Pagina Ufficiale) and Twitter (@giovannisoldini).

The challenge is sponsored by our main partner, Maserati, after which the yacht is named, and by co-sponsors Swiss bank BSI (Generali Group) and Generali itself.

BY GERRY MILES

There’s horsepower and then there’s horsepower.

While the winning horse, Orb, carried the Maserati name and trident to victory in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, it highlighted the matching of the refined and high-powered output of the Quattroporte’s 538 horsepower under the hood of the exotic marque.

The Quattroporte and the all-new Ghibli feature all-wheel-drive for sure-footed hoofing around muddy tracks or enhanced grip when it’s needed before you can sense it.

Maserati Quattroporte

Quattroporte

The Q is offered with either a V-8 or more economical V-6 motor under the hood.

The 3.8-liter, V-8 shows off its power with 523 hp while the 3.0-liter V-6 generates a more miserly 404 hp. Both motors are twin-turbos that are designed by Maserati Powertrain and assembled by Ferrari at their plant in Maranello.

Each vehicle’s engine mounts to an 8-speed automatic transmission developed with ZF. The V8 is the fastest, most powerful and efficient four-door Maserati has ever built, and who’s to doubt them, reaching 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and hitting a top speed of 191 mph.

A monohull sailboat sponsored by Maserati celebrated setting a new time record of the “Golden Route” from New York to San Francisco.

Giovanni Soldini and Maserati set new record of the Golden Route

New York-San Francisco in 47 days, 0 hours, 42 minutes and 29 seconds

By Gerry Miles

Similar to any company getting involved in a different event sponsorship to get attention, expand its brand’s name and recognition, Maserati is partnering in this sailing endeavor to put its name on excellence, speed and grace — just like its cars — and it paid off.

The team sponsored by Maserati sailed from New York to San Francisco in a record 47 days, 0 hours, 42 minutes and 29 seconds to sail from New York to San Francisco, crossing the finish line under the Golden Gate Bridge to establish a new record time reference of the Golden Route, in the monohull category.

Giovanni Soldini and a crew of eight sailors left New York on Dec. 31, 2012 aboard Maserati, to challenge the “Golden Route” record. “We are happy! – says Soldini – The Golden Route is an historic record, a very important and challenging one. Now it will bear the colours of the Italian flag. Maserati proved to be a powerful boat, a technological and reliable one. The crew has been extraordinary, everyone was prepared to face even the hardest situation. I want to thank all my companions in this adventure and to thank also all my partners, Maserati, BSI and Generali who allowed all of us to make our dream come true”.

The challenge is being sponsored by Maserati as main partner and inspiration for the boat’s name, by the Swiss bank BSI (Generali Group) and by Generali itself as co-sponsor.

Suppliers for the attempt include Vodafone Italia, Bulgari, Official Time Keeper, Boero Bartolomeo S.p.A., Eataly e Great Circle.

NEW YORK – SAN FRANCISCO RECORD STORY

The 13225 nautical miles that separate New York from San Francisco via Cape Horn, are an historic route, widely travelled by clippers that were involved in the goldrush starting from the second half of 1800. The best result of the time was set in 1854 by Flying Cloud, exceptional vessel from the Boston shipyards, that reached San Francisco in 89 days and 8 hours, a record that stood for more than 130 years.

After several attempts by many boats, the 60-foot Thursday’s Child of Warren Luhrs arrived in San Francisco after 80 days and 20 hours in 1989. In 1994, Isabelle Autissier aboard Ecureuil Poitou took 62 days and 5 hours. Then, in 1998, Yves Parlier on board Aquitaine Innovations has dropped to 57 days, 3 hours, 2 minutes. This is the reference record for Giovanni Soldini and his crew who will try to beat it aboard the VOR70 Maserati, from the second half of December 2012.

The overall record in the multi-hull category belongs to Lionel Lemonchois who made the journey in 43 days and 38 minutes aboard Gitana 13 in 2008.

The challenge is being sponsored by Maserati as main partner and inspiration for the boat’s name, by the Swiss bank BSI (Generali Group) and by Generali itself as co-sponsor.

MASERATI

Maserati’s support and participation in this major Italian challenge in sport and technology confirms the company’s role as a world ambassador for that level of excellence for which Italy is universally known.